overcome
verb
; overcome; overcoming transitive verb
intransitive verb
Synonyms
- beat
- best
- conquer
- defeat
- dispatch
- do down [British]
- get
- get around
- lick
- master
- overbear
- overmatch
- prevail (over)
- skunk
- stop
- subdue
- surmount
- take
- trim
- triumph (over)
- upend
- win (against)
- worst
Example Sentences
Alexander Thompson, BostonGlobe.com, 28 Aug. 2022 When Barton crumpled to the floor, overcome by emotion, her mother ran over, knelt, and hugged her. San Diego Union-Tribune, 25 Aug. 2022 Pugh and Game of Thrones star Maisie Williams play best friends Abbie and Lydia, students at an English all-girls school that has been overcome by an epidemic of fainting spell episodes. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 11 Aug. 2022 For one, the genre’s relentless optimism and infectious rhythms are hard not to be overcome by, regardless of age. Kyle Denis, Billboard, 8 Aug. 2022 John said he was overcome with emotion during their chat, mostly out of happiness that TJ felt able to tell him. Rachel Desantis, PEOPLE.com, 14 July 2022 Peterson knows he's easily overcome by gratitude and emotion. Kirby Adams, The Courier-Journal, 13 July 2022 All of the inmates complied but McBeth and a second inmate who fought with deputies until the prisoners were eventually overcome by officers by use of force and multiple bursts of pepper-spray, court filings show. John Lynch, Arkansas Online, 9 July 2022 The night was an emotional one for Adele, and Page Six reports that she she was overcome before even finishing her first song. Aimée Lutkin, ELLE, 3 July 2022 See More Word History
Middle English, from Old English ofercuman, from ofer over + cuman to come
before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Kids Definition
overcome
verb
overcome 1 of 2
verb
Synonyms & Similar Words
- defeat
- conquer
- master
- surmount
- get
- beat
- stop
- take
- subdue
- dispatch
- succeed
- best
- worst
- lick
- overmatch
- get around
- overbear
- overwhelm
- upend
- surpass
- bury
- trim
- finish
- do down
- skunk
- exceed
- crush
- prevail (over)
- get the better of
- triumph (over)
- vanquish
- win (against)
- knock for a loop
- score
- excel
- sweep
- upset
- slaughter
- annihilate
- transcend
- blow out
- break
- excel
- flourish
- blow away
- top
- nose out
- flatten
- trounce
- better
- subjugate
- whip
- overthrow
- overpower
- bomb
- cap
- skin
- snow under
- rout
- clobber
- outdo
- smoke
- cream
- unseat
- outshine
- knock over
- outdistance
- pip
- drub
- thrash
- outstrip
- wallop
- shellac
- eclipse
- wax
- edge (out)
- outfight
- knock off
- overtop
- ace (out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- lose (to)
- fall
- give up
- fail
- wash out
- collapse
- go under
- fold
- flunk
- go down
- flop
Synonyms & Similar Words
- overwhelm
- devastate
- crush
- overpower
- oppress
- whelm
- defeat
- swamp
- snow under
- overmaster
- disturb
- prostrate
- drown
- rock
- floor
- grind (down)
- refute
- upset
- shatter
- sink
- distress
- deluge
- throw
- confute
- demoralize
- stagger
- unnerve
- break
- unman
overcome
2 of 2adjective
Synonyms & Similar Words
- uncovered
- disarmed
- resistless
- preyed (on or upon)
- untenable
- passive
- unsafe
- exposed
- feeble
- susceptible
- unarmed
- vulnerable
- abandoned
- helpless
- unprotected
- weak
- indefensible
- defenseless
- marooned
- undefended
- unresistant
- high and dry
- unguarded
- frail
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- resistant
- protected
- covered
- armed
- secure
- immune
- invulnerable
- safe
- shielded
- sheltered
- fortified
- strong
- guarded
- invincible
- defensible
- screened
- impenetrable
- impregnable
- armored
- unconquerable
- omnipotent
- unassailable
- unbeatable
- almighty
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of overcome are conquer, defeat, overthrow, reduce, subdue, and vanquish. While all these words mean "to get the better of by force or strategy," overcome suggests getting the better of with difficulty or after hard struggle.
While the synonyms conquer and overcome are close in meaning, conquer implies gaining mastery of.
Defeat does not imply the finality or completeness of vanquish which it otherwise equals.
Although the words overthrow and overcome have much in common, overthrow stresses the bringing down or destruction of existing power.
While in some cases nearly identical to overcome, reduce implies a forcing to capitulate or surrender.
The synonyms subdue and overcome are sometimes interchangeable, but subdue implies a defeating and suppression.
The words vanquish and overcome can be used in similar contexts, but vanquish implies a complete overpowering.